Safety hitch for tractors



April 16, 1946.

S. S.' ELLIS SAFETY HITCH FOR TRACTORS y f Filed Julyl, 1943 4 sheets-sheet 1l 'Inventor .561% `fa/mezz zza-s WWW April 16, 1946. s, s. ELLls 2,398,365

SAFETY HITCH FOR TRACTORS 4Filed July 31, 1943V 4 Sheets-Sheer?.A 2

MM5/ms s. s. ELLIS'. "'-"-2,398,365

SAFETY HITGH FOR TRACTORS April 16, 1946.

Filed July 5l, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor 1%! [a gi April `16, '1946.

Filed July 31, 1943 s. s. ELLIS SAFETY HITCH FOR TRACTORS 4 sheets-sheet 4 Inventor ses@ .Spa/well 2712's Attorneys Patented Apr. 16,1946

uNlTED vjs'lA'l'lis ritiri-:rrrg ol-"Flcs seth siaweli Ellis, Waynesville, ollle Application July s1, lees, serial No. 496,911

This invention appertains to new and useful immprovements in an attachment for Ford tractors which acquire the use of power from the usual hydraulic mechanism and is especially associated with the Ferguson type of draft mechanism.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a hitch assembly of the character which will enable the operator to safely and conveniently adjust the draw-bar or implement hitch to any desired position without stopping or leaving the seat of the tractor.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an attachment of the character stated which permits of either e rigid or swingingdraw-` bar by the provision of special brace members.

Another important object of the invention is to provide Van attachment of the character` stated which permits the draft assembly to act automatically asa plowing guide by establishing the tractor and plows as a rigid unit which holds the furrow wheel of the tractor against the furrow wall, thus relieving the operator from constantly steering the tractor.

Other objects andadvantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the follow ing description.

inthe drawings:

Figure l represents a vertical longitudinal fragmentary sectional view and showing the draft assembly. A

Figure 2 is a fragmentaryv top plan view.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional V'view through one ofthe side braces showing the same in yielding position.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of one of the side braces showing the same adjusted Vto a nonyieldable position.

Figure 5 is a. perspective view of one of the attaching plates.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the atl taching members for the side braces.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the slotted bar of one of the side braces.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the drawbar connector plates.

Figure 9 is a rear elevational view of the drawbar supporting keeper.

Figure 10 is a side elevational view of the draw'- bar supporting keeper. y I Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like, parts, it can be seen in Figure V 1 that numeral 5 denotesthe rear axleoi. a tractor while numeral 6 denotes a housing therefor.

Conventional hydraulic lift mechanism for this type of Ford tractor employs hydraulically actua claims. (ci. 28o-33.44)

ated arms 1, 1 which are connected by universal coupling 8 to adjustable connectors 9, which in turn. are pivotally secured as at l0 to pivotal drawbar carrying arms -I I.

5 Numeral I2 denotes` a conventional drawbar having pintles I3 at its ends for disposition through the outer ends of the arms Il and also through the openings in the rear ends of angular bar members I 4, it being seen in Figure 8 that` l0 i6 at the ends thereof.

Chain sections, I1 extend from said members I4 to a ring I8 and from the ring I8 a chain I9 extends and is adapted to be adjustably dis-` posed through a keeper element generally re.. ferred to by numeral and which is clearly shown in Figures 9 and 10. This keeper element consists of van elongated plate 2| having a bearing barrel 22 at its midpoint, while its upper end 2o is provided with a keyhole-shaped opening 23,

and to the narrow portion of which a link can be set for abutment in order that the chain arrangement I1, I9 will be held and the drawbar I2 properly supported. As is clearly shown in Figures 1 25 and 10, a suitable brace 24 is provided for this keeper 20. Y

Numeral 25,. denotes the usual top link pin of this type of tractor, and numeral 28 denotes a rocker which is swingably mounted in conjunc- 3@ tion therewith, and which, in turn, supportsthe keeper 2U.

The barrel 22 of the keeper element 20 is pivoted, as at 22', to the rocker 26 with the opening 2t uppermost and the lower end ofthe keeper element adapted `to bear against the differential housing 8' of the tractor. The rocker 26 forms part oi the usual overload control' mechanism of the tractor which need not be described, since it is wellknown in the art. .By inserting selected links of the chain I9 in the opening 23, the height of the draw barv I2 lmay be varied as required.

Thus it can be seen; that the operator, sitting on the tractolrseat A need not leave his seat in order to adjust the drawbar support I1, i9. By merely turning in hisseat and reaching backwards, he may grasp the forward end of the chain I 9., lift a link out of the narrow portion of the opening 23, pull the said chain through the wider portion of said opening to lift the draw bar sup,- port I1, thus lifting the-draw bar l2, and then lower another link of the chain I9 into the narrow portion of the opening 23.

This improved assembly is provided with side brace units 21 which may beset for sliding action 65 or set rigidly.

these angular members i4 have openings I5 and Each of these units 21 consists o! an elongated bar. 2a having one'end threadedly disposed into an internally threaded coupling sleeve 29. A threaded eye 30 is also disposed into thel sleeve 23 and through this eye 30 is disposed a securing bolt. The other end of the bar 28 is slotted as at 3l for receiving a cross pin 32 disposed through a tube section 33 which is aligned with a tube section 34 also located on the bar 28 and 4which' is held to the bar 23 by a cotter key or the like 35. The opposed ends of the tube sections 33, 34 are provided with interlocking protuberances 38, 31, respectively. These protuberances correspond in length substantially to the length of the slot 3l,

and when the protuberances 36, 31 are interlapped as in Figure 3. thepin 32 is in the inner end of the slot 3i and the brace unit 21 is contracted but conditioned for extension since the bar 28, sleeve 29 and eye 80 may slide outwardlypof the tube section 33 and the slot 3l may move relative to the pin 32. This permits the draw bar I2 to .swing laterally of the tractor. However. when the cotter pin 35 is removed the tube section 34 may be given a half turn, and moved away from the tube section 33, whereby the tubes 33, 34 will be in the relative positions shown in Figure 4 with the pin 32 inthe outer end of the slot 3l, with the result that the unit 21 is extended and there can be no longitudinal relative movement, saidy -thereto when the units 21 are contracted or expanded. The upper and lower plates 31 being bolted together by bolts or other means 38.

The outer; ends of the tube sections 33 are assesses While the foregoing specification sets forth t'ne invention in specificterms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

arms, said brace units each consisting of a brace member constructed and arranged to permit extensibility or rigidity, each of said brace members consisting of a pair of tubular sections, one of which is swingably connected to the tractor, a

" bar disposed through one of the sections and into the other section and formed with a slot at its inner end, a removable detent element disposed through the tractor attached tubular section and through the slot in the bar, the other end of the bar being in secured relation to the drawbar, said tubular sections at their opposed ends being provided with interlappable protuberances which, when in opposed relation, rigidify and prevent extensibility of the brace member and which, when in interlapped relation, provide a sliding connecequipped with clamp heads 39 which engage over bolts 40 and which are disposed through openings 4| in the side walls 42 of angular brackets 43, these brackets being suitably secured to the rear axle housing 6 shown in Figures 1 and 2.

tion between vthe bar and 'the tractor attached tubular section,

2. In a tractor hitch, a draw bar, a flexible support for said bar, hydraulically operative carrying arms for the draw bar, and a brace unit for one of said arms comprising a bar pivoted at one end to said arm, a tubular section pivoted at one end to said tractor and in which said last-mentioned bar is slidable endwise, means connecting said last-mentioned bar to said section for limited endwise sliding movement therein, a second tubular section on said last-mentioned bar rotatable and endwise movable thereon in end-to-end relation to the rst-mentioned tube section and adapted to be secured to'said last-mentioned bar to prevent endwise sliding of the same, and means to secure said second-mentioned section to said Alastmentioned bar.

SETH SIDWELL ELLIS. 

